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Meet Steve Lawes
Steve Lawes is a Certified Church Consultant. He has been the lead Pastor of Keys Vineyard Church in Big Pine Key since 1992. He has a Bachelors Degree in Bible and Theology from Berean University and Masters and PhD Degrees from Atlantic Coast Theological Seminary. He lead the Cuba Missions Team for Vineyard Missions from 1995-2005 and traveled to Cuba more than twenty times helping to plant churches and build up local leaders. He served as the South Florida Area Leader for the Association of Vineyard Churches for ten years. He also founded the Jesus Moment Bible Institute and Seminary in 2014 which has a student enrollment of over 2000. He has written three devotional books, Daily Psalt Intake, Daily Sage Intake and Daily Strength Training which are now out of print but are currently available as free e-books.
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Recent Posts from Church Consultant
Finding Rest in God: A Journey from Restlessness to Trust
Introduction
In our latest sermon, we delved into the theme of “Kingdom Foreshadowed,” focusing on the journey from Exodus to Second Kings. This sermon emphasized the importance of trust and rest in our relationship with God. By examining the story of the Israelites and their journey through the Red Sea, we explored how trust in God leads to true rest and how restlessness can lead us to create idols in our lives. Let’s break down the key points and lessons from this powerful message.
The Journey from Exodus to Second Kings
What Are the Ten Words?
The “Ten Words,” commonly known as the Ten Commandments, are not just rules but a love document given to a people already rescued and delivered by God. These words are designed to help us live as the people of God, focusing on loving God and loving others. The first three commandments are about loving God, the last six about loving others, and the fourth one is about Sabbath rest.
Trust and Rest: The Core of the Ten Words
Trusting God is the foundation of entering into His rest. Without trust, we cannot fully rest in Him, and without rest, we cannot love God and others as we are called to. The Israelites’ journey through the Red Sea is a powerful illustration of this. On one side of the Red Sea, they were restless and fearful; on the other side, they found rest and trust in God.
The Importance of Trust
Learning to Trust God
Trusting God is a process that takes time. The Israelites had to learn to trust God through their journey in the wilderness, where He provided for them in supernatural ways. This trust is built through daily dependence on God, as illustrated by the provision of manna and quail.
The Consequences of Restlessness
When we are restless, we are prone to creating idols in our lives. The story of the golden calf in Exodus is a prime example. The Israelites, in their restlessness, demanded a god substitute, leading to the creation of an idol. This serves as a warning for us to avoid letting restlessness drive us to seek false gods.
The Gift of Sabbath Rest
Sabbath as a Reset
The Sabbath is not just a day of rest but a reset, a reminder to focus on God and trust in His provision. It is a promise of new creation and a foretaste of the eternal rest we will have with God. The Sabbath helps us to love God and others by taking time to rest and reset our focus on Him.
The Lifestyle of Sabbath
Sabbath rest should permeate our lives beyond just one day a week. It is a lifestyle of trusting and resting in God, allowing us to love others generously and live in the freedom God intends for us. This includes the practice of canceling debts every seven years, as described in Deuteronomy, to ensure that God’s people are free from indebtedness and slavery.
God’s Restorative Power
The Story of the Floating Axe Head
In 2 Kings, we see a powerful example of God’s restorative power. When a prophet’s student loses a borrowed iron axe head in the Jordan River, Elisha performs a miracle by making the iron float. This story illustrates God’s desire to restore and free His people from indebtedness and slavery.
The Heart of God
God’s heart is for restoration and freedom. He wants us to trust Him, rest in Him, and experience the fullness of life He offers. This theme of rescue and rest runs throughout the Bible, pointing us to the ultimate rest we find in Jesus.
Life Application
Applying Trust and Rest in Our Lives
This week, challenge yourself to trust God more deeply and find rest in Him. Reflect on areas of your life where you may be restless or anxious and seek to replace those feelings with trust in God’s provision and care.
Questions for Reflection
- Which side of the Red Sea are you on? Are you resting in God or feeling restless and anxious?
- What idols or false gods have you created in your life due to restlessness?
- How can you incorporate Sabbath rest into your weekly routine to reset your focus on God?
- In what ways can you trust God more deeply and experience His restorative power in your life?
By focusing on trust and rest, we can live as the people of God, loving Him and others as we are called to. Let this message inspire you to find true rest in God and experience the fullness of life He offers.
May the Lord bless and keep you, and may you find peace and rest in His presence this week. God bless you all!
This series may be taken as a course offered by the Online Bible Institute. For more information check out the Keys Vineyard Ministries Courses page.
Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.
Finding Rest in a Culture of Hurry: A Biblical Perspective
Introduction
Welcome to our latest blog post, where we delve into the profound message from this week’s sermon. Today, we explore the concept of biblical rest and its significance in our fast-paced, performance-driven culture. This summary will help you understand the key points and life applications from the sermon, making it easy to read and skim through.
The Culture of Hurry
Why Are We Always in a Rush?
Our culture is deeply ingrained with the idea of hurry and productivity. From a young age, we are taught that our worth is tied to our performance and how much we can accomplish. This relentless pursuit of productivity leads to stress, anxiety, and a host of other issues. But is this what God intended for us?
The Impact of Stress
Stress manifests in various ways, including headaches, muscle tension, chest pain, fatigue, and sleep problems. Emotionally, it can lead to anxiety, irritability, and even depression. These symptoms indicate that we are not living as God intended. We were not created to manage such high levels of stress.
Biblical Rest: A Different Kind of Rest
What Is Biblical Rest?
Biblical rest is not merely about taking a break to recharge for more work. It is a state of being that stays with us throughout the day. It is about finding peace and contentment in God, regardless of our circumstances. This rest is deeply tied to trust in God and understanding that our worth is not based on our productivity.
The Story of Exodus
In the story of Exodus, the Israelites were delivered from slavery in Egypt, where their worth was measured by their ability to produce bricks. God led them into the wilderness to teach them to trust Him and to provide for them. This journey was not just about physical freedom but also about freeing their minds from the Egyptian mindset of relentless toil.
The Ten Commandments: A Foundation for Rest
The Ten Words
The Ten Commandments, or the Ten Words, were given to the Israelites after their deliverance from Egypt. These commandments were not rules for salvation but guidelines for living a life of freedom and relationship with God. The first three commandments focus on loving God, the last six on loving others, and the fourth commandment emphasizes rest.
The First Commandment
The first commandment, “You shall have no other gods before me,” is a call to reject the false gods of productivity and performance. It is a reminder that our value comes from our relationship with God, not from what we can produce.
Life Application
How Can We Apply This to Our Lives?
- Daily Reflection: Take a few moments each day to reflect on where you might still be “stuck in Egypt.” Are you caught up in the culture of hurry and productivity? Are you finding your worth in what you can produce rather than in your relationship with God?
- Practice Rest: Make a conscious effort to practice biblical rest. This could mean setting aside time each day to be still before God, turning off your phone, and focusing on His presence.
- Trust in God: Trust that God is good and that He will provide for you. Let go of the need to control everything and rest in His promises.
Questions to Ponder
- Where in your life are you still caught up in the culture of hurry and productivity?
- How can you incorporate biblical rest into your daily routine?
- What steps can you take to trust God more fully and let go of the need to control everything?
Conclusion
Biblical rest is essential for living a life of freedom and relationship with God. It allows us to break free from the culture of hurry and find true peace and contentment in Him. This week, challenge yourself to practice rest, trust in God, and reflect on where you might still be “stuck in Egypt.” By doing so, you will begin to experience the life that God has intended for you.
Thank you for joining us in this exploration of biblical rest. We hope this summary has been insightful and that you can apply these principles to your life this week. God bless you!
This series may be taken as a course offered by the Online Bible Institute. For more information check out the Keys Vineyard Ministries Courses page.
Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.
Trusting God in the Wilderness: Lessons from Exodus
This week, we explored the theme of trusting God, drawing lessons from the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness as described in the book of Exodus. This story is not just a historical account but a profound lesson on faith and reliance on God, which is as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago.
The Importance of Trusting God
Why Trust in God is Crucial
Trusting in God is a central theme in the Bible and a crucial aspect of our faith. The Israelites’ journey from Egypt to the Promised Land is a vivid illustration of this principle. Despite witnessing God’s miraculous interventions, the Israelites struggled with trust. This struggle is something many of us can relate to in our own lives.
The Israelites’ Journey: A Lesson in Trust
After being freed from slavery in Egypt through a series of miraculous events, including the ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea, the Israelites found themselves in the wilderness. Despite these powerful demonstrations of God’s power, they quickly began to grumble and doubt His provision.
God’s Provision in the Wilderness
Manna from Heaven: Daily Dependence
In Exodus 16, we read about how God provided manna, a type of bread from heaven, to sustain the Israelites. This provision was not just about meeting their physical needs but also about teaching them to trust God daily. They were instructed to gather only enough for each day, except on the sixth day when they were to gather enough for two days to observe the Sabbath.
The Test of Obedience
Some Israelites, however, disobeyed and tried to gather more than they needed, only to find that the excess manna spoiled overnight. This was a clear lesson that God’s way is the best way, and trusting Him means following His instructions even when they don’t make sense to us.
Water from the Rock: God’s Miraculous Provision
The Need for Water
In Exodus 15, the Israelites faced a dire situation: they had no water. After three days in the desert, they found water at Marah, but it was bitter and undrinkable. Once again, they grumbled against Moses and God.
God’s Response
God instructed Moses to throw a piece of wood into the water, making it sweet and drinkable. This miracle not only provided for their immediate need but also pointed to a greater truth. The wood symbolized the cross, where Jesus would later turn the bitterness of sin into the sweetness of salvation.
Jesus: The Bread of Life and Living Water
Connecting the Old and New Testaments
Jesus often referred to Himself as the Bread of Life and the Living Water, drawing a direct connection to these Old Testament events. In John 6:48-51, Jesus says, “I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die.”
Trusting Jesus for Our Needs
Just as the Israelites had to trust God for their daily bread and water, we are called to trust Jesus for our spiritual sustenance. He promises to meet our needs and provide for us in ways that go beyond our understanding.
Life Application
Applying Trust in Our Daily Lives
Trusting God is not just a concept but a daily practice. Here are some questions to reflect on and apply this week’s message:
- Do I trust God with my daily needs? Just as the Israelites had to gather manna daily, do I rely on God each day for my needs, or do I try to hoard and control my resources out of fear?
- How do I respond to challenges? When faced with difficult situations, do I grumble and doubt like the Israelites, or do I turn to God in faith, trusting that He will provide?
- Am I obedient to God’s instructions? Trusting God means following His commands, even when they don’t make sense to us. Are there areas in my life where I need to be more obedient?
A Challenge for the Week
This week, challenge yourself to trust God more deeply. Start each day with a prayer, asking God to provide for your needs and help you trust Him more. When faced with challenges, remind yourself of God’s faithfulness in the past and choose to trust Him for the future.
Conclusion
The story of the Israelites in the wilderness is a powerful reminder of the importance of trusting God. Just as He provided for their needs, He promises to provide for ours. By trusting Him daily, we can experience the peace and provision that only He can offer.
Thank you for joining us in this exploration of faith and trust. We hope this message encourages you to deepen your trust in God and experience His provision in your life. If you have any questions or need prayer, please reach out to us. God bless!
This series may be taken as a course offered by the Online Bible Institute. For more information check out the Keys Vineyard Ministries Courses page.
Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.
Testimonials
“Steve and his team at Keys Vineyard Church have built a church that has done an inspiring job reaching their community. Steve is a treasure trove of experience and has continued to prioritize learning and growth throughout his more than 30 years of ministry in a way few pastors have. You’ll get a lot out of connecting with him!”
“I watched first hand as Steve experienced the devastation of hurricane Irma in his town of Big Pine Key, Florida. The town was destroyed, the church building rendered unusable and the staff impacted personally. I watched a leader rise to the need of his community and minister in a situation that not very many could. He has a powerful voice of experience and wisdom earned the hard way.”
“Steve Lawes is a valuable coach/ mentor. I’ve watched Steve over the last thirty years build a substantial outward focused church with disciples who do what Jesus did. He has inspired leaders of churches with simple/tested ideas to develop leaders and grow churches.
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“Steve Lawes is an outstanding coach. He is authentic, creative, and personable. He has more cutting edge ideas than any pastor I know in regard to evangelism and meeting the needs of people in his community.”
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One of the greatest questions Jesus asked was “Do You Want to Get Well?”
I t would seem that the answer was obvious. But getting well for the man who had been not well for a very long time meant that he would have to do something different. It is not easy to change, but it always starts with a first step.
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